Monday, March 16, 2009

Every public school student is entitled to "free expression" rights and is allowed to bring a same-sex date to prom. Many youth face obstacles from their administration without full well knowing their own legal recourse for the discriminatory actions by their school.

Lambda Legal offers an informative document with info about your rights and courses of action you can take.

Sample letter one can use to contact school officials about their right to take the person of their choice to prom.

Finally, if the above suggestions and courses of action do not work, you can contact Lambda Legal to see about taking legal action against the school. (This may seem intimidating, but sometimes it is as simple as an attorney calling the school to clarify that they are in violation of your rights which helps clear up the whole mess).

Back a couple of years ago there was anopenly lesbian couple at the school I workat...They went to prom and had a blast...Nobody gave them a hard time...They had their prom photos done and all that...I pray that all children going to prom willhave fun and not be discriminated against...

Yeah, at my high school (the woodlands college park, texas) the principal didn't let gay couples come to prom. When my friend told me this she said that there are no texas laws against discrimination based on sexuality, which sounds really unconstitutional and just hateful, but I don't know if it's true. I did see that there was a Dallas phone # on the Lambda Legal site, so that's probably wrong. Anyway, my principal is a dick. (we can't have a gay-straight alliance either)

Jessica, my son will be a freshman at TWCPHS this fall. He's straight (I think) but as a parent I absolutely support your right to organize a GSA. If you want to pursue this and need some parental support, email me. jhtrumble@gmail.com. I'd be happy to stand with you.

Thank you for the support Janet! Actually, a group of kids at the school (including myself) have worked hard to get the club authorized, and it worked! We already have a teacher sponsor. I've been voted secretary, which I'm very excited about, so I'll send you an email with more details so your son can get involved if he wants to. Thank you, again. What a wonderful coincidence this was that you saw my comment!